Choose The Right Rose For Your Climate
Before you get out your gloves and shovel, the first step to successfully growing roses is selecting the right variety. There are thousands of rose varieties available and, while the basic planting process is the same for most roses, there are a few key points to consider.
The most important feature to pay attention to is the growing zone. Every plant has a growing zone that identifies the areas where it thrives. This information is typically listed on the plant’s tag. You want to choose a rose with a growing zone that includes the zone you live in. For example, if you are gardening in Zone 7, choosing a rose with a zone of 5–10 is a smart option.
If you don’t know the zone for your area, you can find it on the official USDA Map. Ready to make your selection? You can easily filter our roses by zone!
Select Your Planting Area
Roses need at least six hours of sunlight each day, so it is important to select a sunny spot to plant your rose bushes. Pay attention to any shade cover provided throughout the day from large trees or buildings and avoid those if they prohibit the light requirements for your roses.
Before digging any holes, set your roses where you intend to plant them to make sure they are spaced appropriately. The plant’s tag will typically tell you the mature size that the rose will be when fully grown; use this to space your plants.
Also pay attention to the mature height of your rose variety. Although rose bush size can be maintained by yearly pruning, you may not want to plant a very tall growing variety under your front windows when there are numerous varieties that naturally stay at a height ideal for foundation plantings.
Soil Preparation
Once you’ve selected a rose and determined where you want to plant it, don’t skip over preparing your soil! Roses typically grow well in loose, aerated soil with good drainage. If your soil is clay-based, for example, this will lead to overly soaked roots after watering because the excess moisture isn’t able to drain out. If you’ve heard it said that roses don’t like wet feet, this is what is being referred to.
You can amend your soil by mixing in an equal part of a good soil conditioner, such as compost, well-rotted manure, or topsoil.
Basic Planting Steps For Roses:
1. Choose a planting location that receives 6–8 hours of sunlight each day.
2. Dig a hole 3–4” deeper and wider than the pot your rose came in. Work the soil at the bottom of the hole with your shovel so that it’s loose and aerated.
3. If needed, mix your native soil with an equal part of a good soil conditioner, such as compost, well-rotted manure, or topsoil.
4. Remove your rose from its container, using your hands to gently loosen the roots at the bottom of the plant.
5. Place your rose in the hole ensuring that the base of the plant is level with the soil and not leaning in any direction.
6. Add aerated soil back into the hole around the rose bush.
7. Water your rose thoroughly around the base of the plant, allowing the water to soak in. Repeat as necessary. For the next few weeks, check in and water the plant as needed to ensure it stays healthy.
When Is The Best Time To Plant Roses?
You should aim to plant rose bushes in either late winter/early spring or fall. These planting windows offer cool temperatures that will help reduce stress on your newly planted rose and allow the plant to get a healthy root system established before all of its energy goes into producing flushes of blooms in spring and summer. Planting in fall will mean you won’t get to enjoy the blooms as long, but can lead to a stronger plant and increased blooming the following spring. If planting in fall, be sure to do so before your first frost date.
Basic Rose Upkeep
Check out our guides on pruning, common rose diseases, and pest control. For a low-maintenance rose growing experience, try planting Knock Out® Roses or Drift® Roses!